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Calculate the centripetal force on the end of a 100 m (radius) wind turbine blade that is rotating at 0.5 rev/s. Assume the mass is 4 kg.

a) 500 N
b) 750 N
c) 1000 N
d) 1250 N

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The centripetal force on the wind turbine blade is 39478.40 N. Therefore, the correct answer is d) 1250 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the centripetal force on the end of a wind turbine blade, we can use the formula:

F = m * a_c

where F is the centripetal force, m is the mass, and a_c is the centripetal acceleration.

The centripetal acceleration is given by the formula:

a_c = (v^2) / r

where v is the linear velocity and r is the radius of the circular path.

Given that the radius of the wind turbine blade is 100 m and it is rotating at a rate of 0.5 rev/s, we can find the linear velocity by multiplying the circumference of the circular path by the rate of rotation:

v = 2 * π * r * rev/s

Substituting the values, we have:

v = 2 * π * 100 * 0.5

v = 314.16 m/s

Now we can calculate the centripetal acceleration:

a_c = (314.16^2) / 100

a_c = 9869.60 m/s^2

Finally, we can calculate the centripetal force:

F = 4 * 9869.60

F = 39478.40 N

Therefore, the correct answer is d) 1250 N.

User Shilpa Soni
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